Gas-operated sound signal



`Fuly 4, 1950 A. MEROLA 2,513,579

GAS-OPERATED SOUND SIGNAL Filed Feb. 26, 1949 f :IEEE-3 Q,

fuman m11 n l n r u l n 1 v r n l n n u nnentor A A/T//dNY MERoL A Patented `Iuly 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS-OPERATED SOUND SIGNAL Anthony Merola, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application February 26, 1949, Serial No. 78,535

1 Claim.

vThis invention relates to an improved audible signalling device, and the primary object thereof is to provide a signal of the character described, which is designed and intended for use by a person in an emergency for putting to flight and for discouraging a prowler or intruder from carrying out his nefarious intent, and thus protect the user from bodily harm, robbery, and the like.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which will function to emita continuous, shrill, piercing tone or sound for a comparatively short period of time, which is gas-operated and cannot be manipulated to suspend the sound action until the operating gas supply is completely exhausted, which can be quickly and conveniently manipulated to set oil the sound action, which is simple in its construction `and arrangement, durable and eil'icient in its use, compact, positive in its action, and comparatively economical in its manufacture.

With the foregoing `and other objects in view `which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specii'lcally vdescribed and illustrated in the accomvpanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim here unto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: v

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved signalling device in the inoperative posi- 1 provedsignal comprises a cylindrical container 1,

which is designed and intended for receiving and storing a supply of suitably compressed operating fluid, preferably gas. A valve 2, including a valve stem 3, is secured in the upper end of the container. The valve is preferably of the automatically closing type commonly employed in connection with tire tubes, having the exterior surface thereof formed with screw threads, by which the 2 gas supply mechanism may be attached to the valve when forcing gasinto. the container.

A cover tube 4 isfrictionally engaged on the upper portion of the container I whereby said upper portion isl telescopically slidable in the cover tube. The cover tube includes a top 5, which is provided with a plurality of apertures 6 for the escape of gas and sound in the manner to be described.

An upturned, arcuately-shaped slot 'I is formed in the wall of the cover tube 4 adjacent to the inner end of the latter. A screw 8, engaging in the wall of the container I and removable from the latter, extends through the slot 'l and normally prevents theseparation of cover tube from the container. The slot is disposed transversely of the cover tube, and when the screw is in the lower central position of the slot, as shown in Figure l, the container and the cover tube are in the maximum extended positions relatively to each other.

It will .be apparent that, when either the container lI or` the cover tube 4 is turned or rotated in `either direction to the distance allowedl by the slot l, the container and the cover tube will be retracted or drawn toward each other. Further, if both the container and the cover tube are simultaneously turned in opposed directions with respect to each other, the container and cover tube will shift toward each other. The container and cover tube are provided with knurled portions, respectivelyindicated at 9 and IIl, to facilitate the shifting of said container and cover tube for the purposes to be described.

A gas-operated sound producing instrument in the form of a whistle II, of any suitable construction, is mountedin the yupper end ofthe cover tube 4, in closev proximity to but slightly spaced from the top 5. The Whistle isheld in position by acircular holding member I2. The holding member is formed with an `up-turned, annular flange I3, which frictionally engages the inner surface of the wall of the cover tube, and which further engages the peripheral edge of the whistle, Ias clearly shown in Figure 4, The holding member is further formed with a hollow neck I4 which depends from the center thereof.

A cylindrical gripping sleeve I5, -constructed of resilient material, has its upper end slidably engaged on the depending neck of the holding member I2. The lower portion of the sleeve is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slits I8, which are open at their lower ends. The lower end of the sections of the slitted sleeve are slightly curved inwardly, as indicated at I'l, and normally grip the upper end of the control valve 2 when in the inoperative position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

A cross bar I8, carrying a small, xed operating disk I9 on the lower side thereof, has its respective ends securely wedged in the upper ends of a pair of diametrically opposed slits I6 of the sleeve I5. The disk is positioned to engage and depress the valve stem 3 to release the compressed gas from the container I.

Normally; thezicont'ainer I anclthefcoveriftube 4 are in the extended positions withv the screw 3 being disposed at the center of the arcuate slot 1, and with all operating parts of the device being disposed in the positions clearlysshownuin Figure 4. When it is desired to operate the device, the container I'and the cover tube`4 are preferably turned in opposed-.directionsstheidistance allowed by the slot 1, whereby the. container and cover tube are retracted or drawn toward each other in the manner hereinbefore set Suchwretraction of the container Iv-andcover "stube` 4 -wil1"'-force'fthe gripping sl-eeve-lilvdcwnwardlyon the control-valve 2 and cause the-disk AI9 -to engage'- and EdepressY the valve stem- 3 t0 release the Iconnoressed--air from thef'container through the contr'ol avalve. The released-*gas is f directed through the gripping sleevei' l through the neck I4, and through the whistle' Yl'lftoioper-` rate'the latter,-` and isnally exhaustedI through fthe aperturesP` 6 Vinithe `'cover @tube-'topi 5.

"It-:Willhere' be-notedthat, when ther-'sleeve fI5 `is. .forced downwardlyon the -controlrvalve 2, the

'lower ends I'l---of the formerwill grip the thread- ;edr surfaceuof the zlatteriand'thereby 'hold said -sleeve'in such downwardV position until manually released from 'the latter. Such release of the sleeve -would "first necessitate ythe ,separation -of .ther coverv tubef 4lfrom the container I I'by' the 1 removalfoi the screw8. fFurtherfwhilethe-sleeve remains in lsuch vdovvnwardf-position, #the disk I9 :remains in the same position to depress-fthe-valve -stem-3fand `thereby cause'the escape of the-comf pressed gas from theicontainer I--until the gas is '2 completely v'exhausted l from the latter. ffAs f Vthe gripping 'sleevel` I 54s slida'blyengaged on the'- de- `.pendingneck-fl4f-ofthe holding memberf' I2; the

:extension-:of ithe. container I and-cover-f-Itube 4 withy `respect to each '-'other iv7ill=not cause the-'rey@lease or :movement of the-sleeve from its operating 1 engagement on'the control'--valveiinthe Hmane ner stated.

It is, of c'oursepobviousthat, due ito thefsm'all capacity. of Sthe f container f- Iffonlyffsuiicient gas 'an Yassailantv should" get l possession rofi-"thedevice from!l the operatori lie-'would bevunable to ysuspend the opera-tion of 'fthe device; as 'the' latter will "function -untilrall gas `isiv exhausted from?thea-:connl tainer.

l The ir:improved`Y signalling device' may'tbec'con- 4 structed in any suitable sizes to adapt same foil being carried in the hand or hand bag, or in an automobile, or for being conveniently stored at a readily accessible place in the home.

The invention aims to provide an emergency device for the protection of the user that will emit a continuous shrill sound which cannot be suspended until the gas is exhausted therefrom un- ,.less the deviceis taken apart,. andwherein such separation of the parts .would take considerably longer than the eilective sound operation of the ,device From the foregoing description taken in con- .nectiorrwith the accompanying drawing, the con- 41.5 struction and method of operation of the invention'will be readily apparent to those skilled in xthesartftoawhi'chthe invention appertains, and it will be understood that variations in the contour`of the device and in the mechanical moveso ments of the latter may be resorted to without -fdepa'rtingfrom thespirit'pr-sacrificing any advantageslofi thefinvention as defined ainf-'theaaplperided claim.

What I1 claim is: 35 A gas-operated isign'alling 'device-of' the =class f described, comprising the combination `of a container` -for receiving and Istoring I compressed gas andl being -`provided with| an= `automatically closl'ing' type' of control valve'including a valveJ stem, a 'cover Vtube'v-fhaving an apertured` ytop V'slid'ably engaged on f Asaid1A container -and= Vbeing provided with: an VVupturned arcuat'ely shaped:slow-saidl slot vbeing x'disposed 'inthe `sidewall of saidl "tubei adyjacentto the 'innerend ofthelatter, -a screw -fixedin saidcontainer andbeing engaged insaid 'fslot, a gas-operated sound yproducing element -mount'edin saidfcover tube adjacent to'said top, a# holding :member 'frictionally `engagedinvA` said cover tube for'lsecuringisaid element imposition 4o in saidcover tube landincluding a 3depending neck, a gripping sleeve slidably engaged onsaid neck and fin'cluding a--resi1ientslitted flower Tportion-normally engagingi the upper end of said valve, aecross-bar carrying af-disk mounted lin said m slitt'ed 4lower- -portion-of said'sleeva-lthe lturning vivf-said cover l'tube inf eitherdirection "toi thedisiftaneeepermitted'bythefengagement-'of said-screw yin said-'slot 'shif-tingfsaidfltube idownwardlyfon' -said -cont`ainer, Tthe downward-movement of-v said' ltube on =said l'containerfforcingsaid* disk downwardly YAtoil-contactandldepress said -valvef'stemtto release fithergasifrom-saict:container tol-operatefsaid-member and further forcing saidlfsleevedownwardly V.':onff-said-valve to-lprevent they suspension-ofthe 1'opera/'tlonwofifs'aid'y \member= :until-the :gas in4T said '-Jeontainelhasfbeen exhausted.

ANTHONY REFERENGES .CITED G0 il The following"references areY of recordiin 'the 'f' fileofilshis` patent:

izflumber :Name l.z'Dae 1,150,641 Smith Aug..:17;:1915 11;350385 Vfslviclvullin i-.Maw18311920 11i-neas@ einem JMW-13; 11930 

